AFTER Saturday's close 13-8 defeat away to Bedford Blues, Sedgley player-coach Tim Fourie didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"On the coach coming home I didn't know whether to laugh, because Bedford were not that good, or cry, because we didn't take all four points," he said.

"We played really well and we should have won, but the fact is we only came away with a point and we have to live with that."

The abiding emotion he felt after the game was frustration.

"I have to be careful what I say because I could get myself in trouble," he continued.

"We are not being given the respect we deserve, and with that goes any chance of getting the benefit of the doubt.

"It is very difficult to compete with team's like Bedford, who are full of ex-Premiership players, when you are not given any opportunities.

"The more I play in this division the more I think that certain people have it in their head who is going to win a game before it is played, and they are the teams that get the benefit of the doubt.

"Teams like ourselves and Nottingham don't, because the way they see it we can't possibly compete.

"There were things that happened in the Bedford game that prove it - we were definitely treated differently and it affects the outcome of the game.

"It is not a case of sour grapes because we lost, it is the way things are and it is very frustrating.

"Coaches talk about things evening themselves out over the course of a season, but I think that is only true for the competitive teams, the teams that are expected to do well.

"For teams like us, who are expected to get relegated, it does not, the gap just gets bigger and bigger.

"It is going to be difficult enough staying up but it is made even more difficult when you are not given the benefit - because we are expected to lose.

"My guys are working harder and harder every week, but because we are who we are, we never get a chance."

However, on a positive note it is the second successive league game in which the Tigers have emerged with at least a point.

The last time they grabbed four was when they beat Penzance and Newlyn at Park Lane. A month ago they would have lost a game like the Bedford one and got nothing out of it.

On Saturday they have the chance to steal a march on another team struggling in the bottom five, London Welsh.

Fourie said: "We are more than capable of going down to London Welsh and winning. If we approach the full 80 minutes the way we played in the first half last week then we can win.

"They have a couple of guys returning from injury and we will be hoping it takes them a couple of games to get back into their stride and we catch them ion the hop. But we have to be switched on totally for the full 80 minutes, if we are Im confident we can win."

Fourie is likely to start with the same line-up , although he may rotate one or two of the replacements.

One player who may force himself into his plans is 19-year-old Gloucester flanker, Dan Hall, who only joined the club a few weeks ago.

Added Fourie: "He's got so much about him I'm sure if he gets on he'll make a difference, even at this level," said the coach.

"He may find the hits are a bit harder, but he will cope, he loves contact situations.

"My only concern is if I include him I have to make sure I have second row cover."

It was also good to see that despite the frustration he is feeling he has preserved his sense of humour.

"If we could string together two wins it would raise the confidence, the self-belief immeasurably," he said.

"We'll get there eventually, Im convinced we will, but it may mean pulling on a balaclava and nicking a few points!

"I was really gutted that we didn't beat Bedford, but it was a pleasure to play alongside the guys, their defence after I got sin-binned was unbelievable, they got stuck in for each other and played like a team. There is a lot of spunk in this team. We have no superstars, we just graft for each other."